Karzai Promises Change; Taliban Disses 'Puppet'

Insurgent 'brothers' reject the Afghan president's call for unity

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 3, 2009 6:48 AM CST

(Newser) – Hamid Karzai made some sweeping but non-specific promises to banish corruption and reach out to opponents today in his first press conference since being re-elected by default. The Afghan president also reached out to "Taliban brothers," urging them to "embrace their land," but his overtures were scorned by insurgent leaders who said the canceled runoff vote was a victory for them, the BBC reports.

Coalition countries had argued that the "puppet president Hamid Karzai was involved in electoral fraud," but now hail his victory "based on those same fraudulent votes," a statement from the Taliban scoffed. Karzai's leading opponent, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, has said he won't join Karzai's administration but will push for reforms from the outside.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Afghan men celebrate Hamid Karzai's victory over Abdullah Abdullah in the Afghanistan's presidential election in Herat, Afghanistan, today. (AP Photo/Fraidoon Pooyaa)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, today. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

An Afghan man celebrates President Hamid Karzai's victory over challenger Abdullah Abdullah in the presidential election in Herat, Afghanistan, today. (AP Photo/Fraidoon Pooyaa)

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Our government has been seriously discredited by administrative corruption. We will try to remove this stigma from our soil and our country in any possible way. - Hamid Karzai

It would have been better for our country, for the democratic process and for us, if our brother Dr Abdullah had participated and the second round had taken place. - Hamid Karzai

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

RogerMohajir

Nov 3, 2009 6:47 AM CST

Afghanistan is not exactly "any country that receives our aid." We have over 50,000 troops there and contribute 95% of the GDP (excluding poppy). That translates into the power (and responsibility) to change their leadership in ANY century. Any government associated with us will be looked upon with suspicion, but one that actually succeeded in reducing corruption and equitably distributing our aid (as would be more likely with a unity government) would have some hope in the long run. And it wouldn't hurt our cause with the Afghan people to acknowledge the failure of the current government and try something new.

professortech

Nov 3, 2009 5:40 AM CST

Gosh wouldn't it be neat if we could just walk in to any country that recieves our aid and change their leadership? Might have worked in the 19th or early 20th century not so well in the 21st. One more question how would we form a unity government if it would just be recieved as another puppet regime by the locals.

RogerMohajir

Nov 3, 2009 4:24 AM CST

I wish the Obama administration would stop looking at this as a choice between Karzai and the Taliban. We should use the obviously fraudulent election (and his refusal to take steps to ensure a fair runoff) as grounds for removing him from office and force the formation of a unity government that represents the entire country. We are paying all the costs of running of their country, in blood and treasure, so we should decide how it's run -- not some corrupt figurehead who doesn't even have the support of his own ethnic and tribal affiliations.

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Afghanistan • Taliban • Hamid Karzai • corruption • Abdullah Abdullah • Afghanistan election

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Karzai Promises Change; Taliban Disses 'Puppet'